Aji and Moab

Pictured outside - Brook, Doug, Jerry, Nicole, Dave, Tony and Aji (in red pants)

Pictured inside - Nicole, Dave, Tony, Brook, Jerry, Doug

Pictured - Tony and Brook with Nicole butting her head in the background (so typical)

Aji flew in from Texas on the same day we made it to Salt Lake City. We made a plan to spend about 12 days together traveling between Utah and Colorado. On our first night we met up with a group of couchsurfers in Salt Lake City for a couple of beers and entertaining conversations based on the Mormon culture of Utah.

After dropping the girls off at the airport and once again repacking my car for what feels like the 100th time we hopped over to a friends house who cooked a beautiful lunch including warm chili to help ward off the chill in the air. Salt Lake City (just like many other cities) looked like a magic winter wonderland as the trees, cars and streets had a beautiful coating of whiteness.

We took a trip to Salt Lake City's library which might as well be a tourist destination. It was the most beautiful library I have ever seen! After trying to get some "work" in on our prospective projects we took off for a four hour drive to Moab where we met the wild bunch of crazy trail runnin freaks! Nicole, Doug, Tony, Dave, Jerry and I were supposed to run our 20 mile trail run the following morning.

Aji was our support and dropped us off at the starting line. It was a balmy 24 degrees with snow covering the ground. It took me 4.5 hours to complete this rugged course complete with snow, ice, slick rock, elevation gain, sand, mud and rocks. I had a TON of fun and ended up running along side Tony and Holly (who Tony and I met at mile 4 or so). We were quite the trio of a team and helped each other get through the challenge. I looked at that event as a really long hike with an opportunity to jog here and there. The view of the snow covered canyons, spires and valley is indescribable. The sun glistened over every surface and provided some warmth as it had reached 50 degrees by the time the run was complete.

I nearly came to tears as I crossed the finish line. That race meant so much to me. When mom was sick in the fall I fell into a bit of a depression eating myself through the pain and sadness and not exercising in any capacity. My BFF Nicole (Ft. Collins, CO) egged me on to sign up for this ridiculous race. It gave me reason to pick myself off the couch and to stop feeling sorry for myself. I spent several months preparing for the race as much as a flat-lander Houston girl could. I owe a big huge thanks to Nicole for inspiring me to get running and feel better about myself!

After the race we completely indulged in food, hot tub action and libations. We had one heck of a good time painting the town of Moab red.

A painful morning to follow we gave it our best effort to pick up our sore legs, baby our aching heads and bellies and enjoy our last day in Moab with a very short walk about and dining at the local restaurants.

Aji, Doug and I drove from Moab to Frisco that Sunday night and we enjoyed a peaceful slumber!